Died March 20, 687. Saint Herbert was the priestly disciple and good friend of Saint Cuthbert. He lived alone on the island on Lake Derwentwater, later called Saint Herbert's. Each year Herbert would visit Saint Cuthbert at Lindisfarne. In 686, the year before Saint Cuthbert died, he travelled to Carlisle, and Herbert visited him there instead. Saint Cuthbert told Herbert on this visit that if he had anything to ask he must do so at this time because he foresaw that he would die and the Herbert would not see him again in this world. Herbert wept and begged him not to abandon him, but to pray that since they had served God together in the world, they be taken at the same time. Saint Cuthbert prayed for a moment and then predicted that this would be so. Soon afterward Herbert fell ill and his illness lasted until March 20 of the following year, when both saints died.

In 1374, Bishop Thomas Appleby of Carlisle ordered the vicar of Crosthwaite to celebrate a sun Mass on St. Herbert's Isle each year on his feast, and granted 40 days' indulgence to all who visited it on this day. Ruins of a circular stone building there may be connected with him (Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, White).

Date of birth
unknown; d. 20 March, 687; an anchorite of the seventh century, who dwelt for many
years on the little island still known as St. Herbert's Isle, in the Lake of Derwentwater.
He was for long the friend and disciple of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. Little is known about him, save that it was his custom every
year to visit St. Cuthbert for the purpose of receiving his
direction in spiritual matters.
In the year 686, hearing that his friend was visiting Carlisle
for the purpose of giving the veil to Queen Eormenburg, he went to see him
there, instead of at Lindisfarne as was usual. After they had spoken
together, St. Cuthbert said, "Brother Herbert,
tell to me now all that you have need to ask or speak, for never shall we see
one another again in this world. For I knowthat the time of my decease is at hand." Then Herbert
fell weeping at his feet and begged that St. Cuthbert would obtain for him the grace
that they might both be admitted to praise God in heaven at the same time. And St. Cuthbertprayed and then made answer, "Rise, my brother,
weep not, but rejoice that the mercy of God has granted our desire." And so it
happened. For Herbert, returning
to his hermitage, fell ill of a long sickness, and, purified of his
imperfections, passed to God on the very day on which St. Cuthbert died on Holy Island. It is said that the
remains of St. Herbert's chapel and cell may still be traced at the northern
end of the island on which he lived. In 1374 Thomas
Appleby, Bishop of Carlisle, granted an indulgence of forty days to all who, in honour of St. Herbert,
visited the island in Derwentwater
and were present at the Mass of St. Cuthbert to be sung annually by the Vicar of Crosthwaite.

Benedictinemonk and priest. Disciple and friend of SaintCuthbert of Lindisfarne. Hermit on the island of Lake Derwentwater, later called Saint
Herbert’s Island. Each year he visited Cuthbert at Lindisfarne. In 686Cuthbert visited Herbert on his island, and told him that if he had
anything to ask, he must do so because he foresaw he would soon die. They both prayed
they go together. Soon after, Herbert fell ill; the illness lasted till 20 March687 when both saintsdied. In 1374, Bishop Thomas Appleby of Carlisle ordered the vicar of Crosthwaite
to celebrate a sun Mass
on Saint Herbert’s Isle each year on his feast,
and granted 40 days Indulgence to all who visited on this day. Ruins of a circular stone
building there may be connected with him.

Amongst the beautiful isles of Derwentwater,
that named St Herbert's Island deserves a more than ordinary notice, as well
for its beauty as its historical associations. This insulated paradise includes
an extent of four or five acres, well covered with wood, and is situated near
the centre of the lake. It obtained its name from St Herbert, a priest and
confessor, who, "to avoid the intercourse of man, and that nothing might
withdraw his attention from unceasing mortification and prayer," about the
middle of the 7th century, chose this island for his lonely abode.

"St Herbert hither came,

And here for many seasons, from the world

Removed, and the affections of the world,

He dwelt in solitude. "

The locality was well adapted to the severity
of his religious life; he was surrounded by the lake, from whence he received
his simple diet. On every hand the voice of the waterfalls excited the most
solemn strains of meditation - rocks and mountains were his daily prospect,
inspiring his mind with ideas of the might and majesty of the Creator.

That St Herbert had his hermitage on this
island is certain from the authority of the venerable Bede, as well as from
tradition, and nowhere could ancient eremite find more profound peace, or a
place of so great beauty, whence to bear on the wings of imagination his
orisons to heaven.

St Herbert was particularly distinguished for
friendship to St Cuthbert bishop of Lindisfarne, with whom he was contemporary;
and, according to a legendary tale, at the intercession of St. Herbert both
these holy men expired on the same day, and in the same hour and minute, which,
according to Bede, was in 678 or 687.

At Lindisfarne, expecting death,

The good St Cuthbert lay,

With wasted frame and feeble breath;

And monks were there to pray.

The brotherhood had gathered round,

His parting words to hear,

To see his saintly labours crown'd,

And stretch him on the bier.

His eyes grew dim; his voice sunk low;

The choral song arose;

And ere its sounds had ceas'd to flow,

His spirit found repose.

At that same hour, a holy man,

St Herbert, well renown'd,

Gave token that his earthly span

Had reach'd its utmost bound.

St Cuthbert, in his early years,

Had let him on his way;

When the tree falls, the fruit it bears

Will surely, too, decay.

The monks of Lindisfarne meanwhile

Were gazing on their dead;

At that same hour, Derwent isle,

A kindred soul had fled.

There is but little information on record
respecting St Herbert, and had it not been for his intimacy with St Cuthbert,
his name probably would not have been handed down to posterity at all. In
truth, he did little more than pray and meditate on this spot. It was his wish
to love and die unknown. Though one in spirit, St Cuthbert and the Hermit of
Derwentwater were entirely dissimilar in character. St Cuthbert was bishop of
Lindisfarne, and eminent preacher in his day, whose eloquence influenced the
will of many, and whose active zeal contributed to the advancement of the then
dominant church, of which he was one of the main pillars and rulers. St Herbert
was altogether a man of prayer. He retired from the world to this solitude, and
passed his days in devotion. The two saints used to meet once a year for
spiritual communion. Which had most influence with the Ruler of heaven we
cannot say.

The venerable Bede writes thus of the “Hermit
of Derwentwater”:- "There was a certain priest, revered for his
uprightness and perfect life and manners, name Herberte, who had a long time
been in union with the man of God (St Cutherbert of Farn Isle), in the bond of
spiritual love and friendship. For living a solitary life in the isle of that
great and extended lake, from whence proceeds the river of Derwent, he used to
visit St Cuthbert every year, to receive from his lips the doctrine of eternal
life. When this holy priest heard of St Cuthbert's coming to Lugubalia, he came
after his usual manner, desiring to be comforted more and more, with the hope
of everlasting blisse, by his divine exhortations. As they sate together, and
enjoyed the hopes of heaven, among other things the bishop said:

`Remember, brother, Herberte, that
whatsoever ye have to say and ask of me, you do it now, for after we depart
hence, we shall not meet again, and see one another corporally in this world;
for I know well the time of my dissolution is at hand, and the laying aside of
this earthly tabernacle draweth on apace.'

When Herberte heard this, he fell down at his
feet, and with many sighs and tears beseeched him, for the love of the Lord,
that he would not forsake him, but to remember his faithful brother and
associate, and make intercession with the gracious God, that they might depart
hence into heaven together, to behold His grace and glory whom they had in
unity of spirit served on earth; for you know I have ever studied and laboured
to live according to your pious and virtuous instructions; and in whatsoever I
offended or omitted, through ignorance and frailty, I straightway used my
earnest efforts to amend after your ghostly counsel, will, and judgement. At
this earnest and affectionate request of Herbertes, the bishop went to prayer,
and presently being certified in spirit that his petition to heaven would be
granted, - `Arise,' said he, `my dear brother, weep not, but let your rejoicing
be with exceeding gladness, for the great mercy of God hath granted unto us our
prayer.'

The truth of which promise and prophecy was
well proved in that which ensued; for their separation was the last that befel
them on earth; on the same day, which was the 19th day of March, their souls
departed from their bodies, and were straight in union in the beatific sight
and vision; and were transported hence to the kingdom of heaven, by the service
and hands of angels."

It is probable the hermit's little oratory or
chapel might be kept in repair after his death, as a particular veneration
appears to have been paid to this retreat, and the memory of the saint; for, at
the distance of almost seven centuries, we find this place resorted to in holy
services and processions, and the hermit's' memory celebrated in religious
offices.*

* In the register of Bishop Appleby,
in 137-t, there is an indulgence of forty days to any inhabitant of the parish
of Crosthwaite, that should attend the Vicar to St Herbert's Isle, on the 13th
of April, yearly, that being the anniversary of his death, there to celebrate
mass in memory of St Herbert. Precessions and ceremonies of this kind had, in those
days, a powerful effect on the minds of the lower orders of society. Perhaps it
was better they should have some religion, though tinctured with a degree of
superstition, than have been possessed of minds irreverent towards heaven, and
souls totally absorbed in the darkness of ignorance, and given up to gross
licentiousness.

The remains of the hermitage are still visible;
and near to these hallowed ruins stands a small grotto of unhewn stone, called
the New Hermitage, erected some years ago by Sir Wilfrid Lawson, to whose
representative the island at present belongs. The dwelling of the anchorite
consisted of two apartments, one of which, about twenty feet in length by
sixteen in width, appears to have been his chapel; the other, whose dimensions
are considerably less, was his cell.

The passion for solitude and a recluse life
which reigned in the days of this saint, and was cherished by the monastic
school, at first sight may appear to us uncouth and enthusiastic; yet when we
examine into those times, our astonishment will cease, if we consider the
estate of those men, who, under all the prejudices of education, were living in
an age of ignorance, vassalage, and rapine; and we shall rather applaud than
condemn a devotee, who, disgusted with the world and sins of men, consigns his
life to the service of the Deity in retirement. We may suppose we hear the
saint exclaiming with the poet -

"Blest be that hand Divine, which gently laid

My heart at rest beneath this humble shade;

The world's a stately bark, on dangerous seas,

With pleasure seen, but boarded at our peril;

Here on a single plank, thrown safe on shore,

I hear the tumult of the distant throng,

As that of seas remote or dying storms;

And meditate on scenes more silent still,

Pursue my theme, and fight the fear of death.

Here, like a shepherd gazing from his hut

Touching his reed or leaning on his staff,

Eager ambition's fiery chase I see;

I see the circling hunt of noisy men

Burst law's enclosures, leap the mounds of right,

Pursuing and pursued, each other's prey;

As wolves for rapine, as the fox for wiles,

Till Death, that mighty hunter, earths them all."

Young's Excursion

Wordsworth
has the following beautiful lines on the Hermit of Derwentwater: